Well, well, well....we started this day off on the right foot! Tea and toast by the pool, reading on the lounges, cooking European style in the outdoor oven around 3:00 p.m., moving to the patio for port and cheese and watching a little TV at the end of the day. We have not played cards yet, conversation is still flowing. We played the game, "If this was your house, what would you do?"

Tony was all about the BBQ and the outside as he swept and cleaned up the yard. He would have other parking facilities and he would fix every crack in any wall or elsewhere that he found. I was all about the interior and how I would "lighten up" the furniture but leave the gorgeous rugs on the cobblestone, terrazzo and wood floors. I would move the laundry facilities inside, they are in an out building, and take over one of the washrooms. You do not need three bathrooms in this house

. I love the cracks and the discolouring outside on the whitewash. I believe it shows character and gives me appreciation for this cottages longevity. We would keep each other busy on that front.

We opened all of the windows and doors today, wide open and the house just filled with freshness and sunshine. For the first time we swung open our shutters on to the little balcony off of our bedroom. The view of the village below is magnificent. As the trees come to full bloom, this view will be covered but the shade the trees provide will be welcomed in the heat of summer.Tony threw on his shorts and T-shirt by 11:00 and I threw on a short sleeve sun dress. Yep if this weather continues, I will and everyone else as well, wish this dress is never seen again. I will have it on every warm day, or my nightie! I have also discovered in this climate my hair curls, to my chagrin, and Tony, good news has more hair than usual, he is very happy that I mentioned that to him....

We grilled wild mushrooms today with our lunch that we had purchased, but honestly Robert we needed you, we are seeing lots of mushrooms in the woods while hiking and I believe this will be a constant in our walking adventures. We always say "Robert would know if we could eat these".

There are changes here everyday, the warm rain and cool nights have given all of the landscape a fresh breath of energy. We woke to new flowers, buds, butterfly's, birds, mushrooms, bees, baby lizards scattering about. This morning we heard a rooster crow and a dog bark. At 8:00 a.m. and at noon, the church bells rang. New sounds and welcoming ones. It is Spring!

I know now you will be putting the clocks ahead on Saturday night, we are wondering if we will be as well. We will find out. We are thinking of going to check out the Market in Lisbon tomorrow morning, our first trip back into the big city since our arrival. One of many, I am sure. We will see what the morning brings.

Remember the story about the up, down, up the stairs, and reverse? Well I have always paid attention and today while pretending this was my house and I was moving outside furniture around, I missed a step and lucky for me I am only experiencing a bad sprain. Ice, elevation, Advil and booze, I am feeling really great right now. I am so damn careful, but I made a stupid mistake today. I will be fine. Tony is not sure how to handle an invalid as far as care and someone he cares about saying "ouch" but he is one hell of a Bartender! By the way, the outside looks really good and I think the owners will like the changes..... Seriously, I will survive and carry on.

Now I will say, we are ending the day not on the wrong foot, but the other. Tomorrow, both feet on the ground and Lisbon bound. Talk to you then.

Your comment has been posted. Click here or reload this page to see it below.

Please enter a comment.

Please provide your name.

Please avoid using symbols in your name.

This name is a bit long. Please shorten it, or avoid special characters.

Please enter your email address to receive notification

Please enter a valid email address

Your Name

Your Email Address

Notify me when new comments are posted on this entry.

Comments

Mary Fleming
on Mar 8, 2014 at 01:26PM

Hi Guys
What a wonderful trip you are having. Reading about it makes me feel like I am there instead of the snowy north. Oww for you Jane but I like your choice of painkiller.
Looking forward to the next update, a great read with my morning coffee,
Mary

Karen
on Mar 8, 2014 at 01:34PM

Coffee time on this side is over. The sun is out! Last week at -27 we headed to river for wine and cheese on the deck. This week at -5, some snow last and the sun who knows where we will venture. But off we go!

Murray Green
on Mar 8, 2014 at 04:44PM

Enjoying your trip description. I looked at the pictures and I am positive Tony doesn't have any more hair. Watch yourself on those stairs.